QuestionI bought a 1979 classic car that according to the previous owner, I needed to clean the fuel system because the car (gas)had been sitting in the garage for over 7 years. He stated that the fuel lines needed to ("revarnished?"). I know, I need change gas filter, drop the gas tank and get rid off the old gas. What else I need to do to restore fuel system? I appreciate your time and feed back, Thanks!!!
Answer7 years is about the threshold for serious gumming up of the old gas in the tank, depending on how the car was stored. If it was stored in a cool, dry place with a full tank of gas, it may be not too bad - just draining the tank, changing the filter, and probably rebuilding the carburetor and fuel pump may be all that is required (assuming it is a carbureted car).
If, on the other hand, it was stored with less than a full tank, the entrapped air will have converted some of the gas to a gummy mess, which must be removed by a professional gas tank cleaner. Some radiator shops will do this. I suppose the process could be called "DE - varnishing" since what the gas converts to smells a lot like varnish - "RE varnishing" sounds like a mis-used word to me.
No part of the fuel system has any varnish in it normally.
If the car is Fuel injected, you may be in for a lot more work on the injectors and pumps - but you could try running injector cleaner through it after you get the fuel supply system cleaned out.
One other thing you must do for safety reasons is to replace ALL the rubber fuel lines in the car with new currently made fuel hose. The stuff made prior to about 1999 or so cannot tolerate modern oxygenated fuels, and will cause serious fuel leakage if not replaced. I dont' know what kind of car you are talking about, but these fuel lines may be back at the fuel tank, up front at the fuel pump and carburetor, and in the vapor recovery system.
By the way, 1979 is an old car, and some may even consider it an "antique", but it is certainly not a "Classic" car. The last Classic was made in 1942, with a few exceptions for carry-over models into the immediate post-war period - the last of which was made in 1948. The qualifications to be considered a Classic involve many more factors than age - for example: high Price, exceptional engineering or features, exceptional performance, exceptional stying etc. Examples of Classics are Rolls-Royce, some Packards and Cadillacs, the Lincoln Continentals, a few Imperials and some older obscure brands of the late 20's and 30's.
For more information on this subject, you can access the web site of the CCCA, the Classic Car Club of America.
You will find that many old car folks mis-use the term "Classic" - we even have "Classic" 55 Chevrolets etc.- but that doesn't make it correct.
OK< I'll get down off my soap box now.
Back in my cage,
Dick
